Werdum submitted Emelianenko with a 69-second choke triangle-armbar
at Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Werdum” on June 26 in San
Jose, Calif. It was the 33-year-old Emelianenko’s first loss in 29
fights and nearly 10 years.

Emelianenko’s M-1 Global management, which co-promotes select
events with Strikeforce, has already requested the rematch with
Werdum “right away,” according to Coker. Under the current
contract, Emelianenko will return to the U.S., at least one more
time to compete under the Strikeforce/M-1 Global banner.

Coker said negotiations to extend the agreement between the two
entities for more co-produced events featuring Emelianenko are
forthcoming.

“We just saw Fedor fight Werdum. I’m not saying we couldn’t do the
rematch first,” said Coker. “I’m just saying there are a couple of
options on the table and the other option would be to fight
Alistair…but until we sit down with M-1, these are all just the
options…For me, the times have changed and it’s going to be an
interesting negotiation now.”

As for the promotion’s heavyweight champion Overeem, Coker quelled
talk that the 31-year-old Dutch striker’s attention might be
divided with his preliminary plans to enter a K-1 tournament this
summer.

“I talked to Alistair and have really good contact with his
management and they told me his priority is going to be fighting in
America,” said Coker. “If he does want to enter the K-1 tournament,
I have no problem with that. We’ll schedule around that because I
know he has a personal goal that he’d like to win that
tournament.